http://www.biolsci.org/v05p0706.htm
Abstract
We present for the first time a comparative analysis of blood and organ
system data from trials with rats fed three main commercialized genetically
modified (GM) maize (NK 603, MON 810, MON 863), which are present in food
and feed in the world. NK 603 has been modified to be tolerant to the broad
spectrum herbicide Roundup and thus contains residues of this formulation.
MON 810 and MON 863 are engineered to synthesize two different Bt toxins
used as insecticides. Approximately 60 different biochemical parameters were
classified per organ and measured in serum and urine after 5 and 14 weeks of
feeding. GM maize-fed rats were compared first to their respective isogenic
or parental non-GM equivalent control groups. This was followed by
comparison to six reference groups, which had consumed various other non-GM
maize varieties. We applied nonparametric methods, including multiple
pairwise comparisons with a False Discovery Rate approach. Principal
Component Analysis allowed the investigation of scattering of different
factors (sex, weeks of feeding, diet, dose and group). Our analysis clearly
reveals for the 3 GMOs new side effects linked with GM maize consumption,
which were sex- and often dose-dependent. Effects were mostly associated
with the kidney and liver, the dietary detoxifying organs, although
different between the 3 GMOs. Other effects were also noticed in the heart,
adrenal glands, spleen and haematopoietic system. We conclude that these
data highlight signs of hepatorenal toxicity, possibly due to the new
pesticides specific to each GM corn. In addition, unintended direct or
indirect metabolic consequences of the genetic modification cannot be
excluded.
